An electronics insurance company has begun offering coverage for Apple's iPhone, including damages caused by accident.
Safeware began insuring iPhones last week, PC World reports. Damages covered under the plan include theft, accidental damage, liquid spills, drops, power surges, fires and floods, among other things. Without this insurance, iPhone owners get a one year warranty that doesn't cover accidental damage. A 3-year AppleCare plan also doesn't include boo-boos.
A marketing manager for Safeware told PC World that Apple is okay with the third-party coverage. The company also insures other smartphones, as well as laptops and desktop computers. In addition to collecting premiums, Safeware makes money by selling salvaged parts to third-party repair companies.
Service from Safeware runs from $62 per year for an 8GB iPhone 3G to $103 per year for the 32 GB iPhone 3GS, plus a 10 percent policy fee. There's also a $100 deductable that's applied if any damages do occur.
As always, this begs the question: Is iPhone insurance worth it? My first thought is "no," considering even the best iPhone costs $300, and you'd be paying $213 to replace it. However, AT&T isn't likely to replace a broken iPhone for the subsidized price, so you're actually looking at $500 for a new Phone without insurance. Still, you may be able to get the problem repaired without betting on insurance.
So my vote is no, unless you're really, really clumsy.
